Dear University of Oregon students,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition, I want to acknowledge the stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and isolation many in our university community experienced during the last two years. Throughout all of it, our community worked together to overcome many challenges and supported one another.
Due to the strength of our community, the University of Oregon has remained committed to working together to foster a positive environment for learning, teaching, and research. Supporting mental health and well-being of our campus community is an important element of this work. As Brielle Wiener, the incoming chair of Counseling Services Student Advisory Board, mentioned in the video at the start of this message, the university has a number of resources available to support mental health awareness:
- Kognito, a virtual mental health training to learn how to have effective conversations with your peers to support their mental health. Any UO student, faculty, or staff member who completes the training before the end of May will be entered into a drawing to win one of twenty $20 gift cards to the Duck Store with the first 100 receiving a free scoop of ice cream from Salt and Straw.
- Take an anonymous mental health screening that assesses the common concerns of students.
- May Mental Health Awareness Month events including workshops, providing Stress Less Kits at weekly tabling events, and engaging students in the Kindness Rock Project.
In addition, University Health Services (UHS) has a number of resources through Counseling Services (CS), Medical Services, and the Duck Nest that are available to you as a UO student:
- Let’s Talk, a drop-in service that provides easy access to free, informal, and confidential consultation with a CS staff member
- Group therapy and short-term individual therapy services
- Identity-based specialists to support students from marginalized communities
- Two apps, WellTrack and Nod, for easily accessible resources to improve mental health
- Case manager support to help you find mental health support in your area
- Medication management by medical professionals
- Duck Nest Peer Wellness Chit Chats for peer connection and support
- After-hours support and crisis line (541-346-3227) to speak with a mental health professional when CS is closed
- Online Self-Care Kit, Be Well Blog, and Duck Nest Wellness Resources
- Follow Counseling Services, Duck Nest Wellness Center, and HealthyUO Instagram accounts for self-care tips, mental health programming, and wellness resources.
Visit Counseling Services and University Health Services websites for more information. Please reach out to these professionals and programs to find support and connect with resources this month and every month.
Sincerely,
Michael H. Schill
President and Professor of Law